With the stars
from Mathew Corbett, treated me to a blast from his water cannon, the full force of which nearly sent me flying. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!
Many stars came and went including Randy Crawford, Gene Pitney, Val Doonican and Sad Café, a band that made a big impression on the charts with Everyday Hurts.
My interview with the band was almost a disaster, when the recording machine unwound the tape leaving an empty reel spinning around. Thankfully I managed to capture enough material before the technology went into self-destruct mode.
By far the biggest name was the one I almost got to interview. Marvin Gaye was a big recording star, famous for classic Motown tracks like I Heard It Through The Grapevine and Let’s Get it On.
When I heard he was coming to the Southport Theatre, I managed to arrange an interview through the usual unofficial channels.
But when I arrived, microphone in hand, there was tension in the air. First of all Marvin was late and the support band was beginning to outstay its welcome. Meanwhile, a tall serious man, whom I took to be the road manager, was querying a list of dressing room requirements that had to be met.
It seemed one of these stipulations was to supply Marvin with a jar of clear honey. Unfortunately someone had messed up, so only the white cloudy version had been provided.
His management people were not happy and suggested the show might have to be cancelled unless the clear honey was supplied. On a Sunday night in Southport in the early 1980s this was difficult to find, but someone had to go out into the night and find a shop that was actually open. Eventually the honey problem was solved but Mr Gaye had still not arrived – remember, this was a time before mobile phones.
I was told that the interview would now take place after the show, possibly as late as midnight. Tired and uncomfortable with the goings on that night, back stage at the Southport Theatre, I made my excuses and left what was beginning to look like an all night session. After all I had a proper job to contend with in the morning.
And so, that is how I turned down an interview with Marvin Gaye at the Southport Theatre one night in the early 1980s. The soul legend went on to have more hits, including Sexual Healing in 1982, the very year I began my professional radio career at Red Rose Radio.
Strangely enough I never got to meet quite as many famous people in my professional broadcasting life, but I will always be grateful to those big name stars who freely gave their time during those memorable nights at the Southport Theatre – especially to Phil King and John Sutton who were happy just to let me go backstage.
I often wonder what happened at the end of that long night when Mr Gaye put his honey jar aside and announced to his entourage: “Tell him I’m ready for my interview now.”
Tune in to Derek on Sandgrounder Radio online and on DAB on Saturday mornings, 10am to 1pm and Sunday to Thursday 9pm to midnight.